Lower Sargents Ridge

Anywhere from 1 to 4 inches of recent snow from 2/28 to 3/1 covers most surfaces in the Old Ski Bowl area. Windward, exposed aspects were scoured to a crust, while the most drifted leeward aspects held up to ~10 inches. The recent snow sits atop a firm melt-freeze crust - measured at 13 inches thick on a south aspect at 9,400 feet - providing for supportable skiing and sledding. Snow surfaces on solar aspects should transition to proper "corn" snow with the expected weather in the coming days. Overall, the snowpack appears to be consolidating and gaining strength, but it is still very much transitioning from winter to spring. 

A small avalanche on upper Sargents Ridge - southeast, 12,000 feet - that probably failed this past weekend A few small recent natural cornice failures on leeward (southeast) ridgelines Natural rollerballs shedding near solar-warmed rock features

On a drifted southeast aspect at 8,800 feet, over four feet of snow sat atop the January drought crust. The snowpack was primarily pencil hard and moist throughout, with pooling meltwater observed at a couple of interfaces. Several crusts (ranging from P to K to I in hardness) exist within the snowpack. Free water in the snowpack at this location was less than has been observed in recent days on similar aspects/elevations. No graupel layers were observed. 

On a south aspect at 9,400 feet, about 3 inches of wet recent snow (4F) sat atop a stout 13-inch melt-freeze crust (K), with drier snow beneath. 

At elevations below 9,000 feet, overhanging cornices along leeward (southeast) ridgelines softened with solar input and small chunks could be released with a ski kick. Colder temperatures in the forecast should add strength to these features.